Cameroonian troops kill 70 residents in Borno
Cameroonian troops have killed at least 70 residents while chasing Islamic insurgents in Gwoza, Borno State, fleeing villagers have said.
The troops entered Kirawa-Jimni village on Sunday, asked where Boko Haram insurgents were and started shooting, some residents alleged.
“We didn’t know what was going on, but the Cameroonian troops suddenly appeared and began to ask us for Boko Haram terrorists,” said Muhammed Abba, a resident of the village and deputy commander of a local group of civilians set up to fight extremists in Gwoza.
“Before we could say a word, they started firing. That scared most of us and we began to run.”
He said when people returned on Monday, they counted 70 bodies.
Borno State spokesman for a civilian self-defence group, Abbas Gava, confirmed the reports, saying he received calls from residents of Ashigashiya village near the border with Cameroon.
“They said the soldiers were in hot pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists, who ran into Kirawa-Jimni,” he said.
Cameroon’s military spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck yesterday denied that troops shot at civilians, saying Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers were carrying out raids against Boko Haram.
“We know the terrorists are hiding and attacking harmless civilians, but we are protecting them,” he said.
Kirawa-Jimni is a border community near Cameroon. Gwoza residents, who fled to Maiduguri and Yola, said insurgents are still there.
Nigerian refugees said Cameroonian troops also chased Boko Haram fighters into Nigerian territory on November 30, killing at least 150 people.
The Cameroonian government denied the allegation, saying the military was trained to respect human rights.
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